Discussion: Geology along the Southern Margin of the Absaroka Range, Wyoming

Abstract

This contribution by John David Love' to geology of southern part of Absaroka Range adds materially to our understanding of stratigraphy and geological history of Yellowstone Park. Covering a scope of structure, stratigraphy, and geologic history it is of a type that is most needed to understand complex history of Middle Rockies. The meat of this paper, however, might have been presented in a much shorter manner. There is much drawing upon literature on other areas that does not add to geology of area mapped. In some cases it is doubtful if conclusions reached are correct for Middle Rockies. For example, to quote: Upper Mesaverde and younger Cretaceous rocks are not present here, and time did not permit a study of them in adjacent area three miles east of Red Creek. Yet author proceeds to discuss pulses of Laramide by reference to work of others from central Utah to Montana and Dakotas. Hence first three items listed in his summary are based on testimony of others on other localities. Although these particular conclusions may be correct, they are illustrative of lengthy paper which expands blanket of its discoveries to cover a much larger region than area studied. Even while so doing he states the Laramide Revolution was not a movement affecting all mountain ranges simultaneously.' (This statement is not proven.) It would be better to confine his discussions to contribution which his area makes to a better understanding of Middle Rockies themselves. A number of new formation names have been used for Eocene